Yesterday, the MA Senate passed the Plastics Reduction Act, a comprehensive bill to reduce plastic waste, by a wide margin of 38 to 2. The only NO votes were from Republican Senators Peter Durant (R-Spencer) and Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).

The bill would prohibit carry-out plastic bags at retail stores statewide and require stores to charge 10 cents for recycled paper bags, five cents of which will be allocated to environmental protection measures (including making reusable bags widely available in low- and moderate-income communities). As of last year, more than 160 cities and towns, constituting nearly 70 per cent of the state’s population, already regulated single-use plastic bags.

The bill also takes additional steps, such as the following:

• Preventing plastic utensils and straws from automatically being given to consumers
• Prohibiting single-use plastic bottle purchases by state agencies
• Creating a statewide program for recycling large plastic objects such as car seats
• Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to submit a report on how to expand access to composting
• Establishing a commission on extended producer responsibility

During the floor debate, conservatives of both parties, led by Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), sought to make the plastic bag fee optional for retailers. That amendment failed 8 to 30, with Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), Michael Moore (D-Auburn), and John Velis (D-Westfield) joining the chamber’s four Republicans.